School board reviews retirement policy, budget amid ‘unprecedented’ times

The Whitefish School District board’s business meeting last week was rife with what-ifs as trustees contemplated potential impacts of federal and state level changes to education.  

At the forefront was a discussion of amending a retirement application deadline and a first glimpse at a preliminary 2025-26 budget.  

A request to extend the deadline in which employees must apply to retire to receive a particular retirement bonus that accrues throughout employment was approved. The deadline is typically March 1 but was extended for just this year to April 15.  

The proposal came about by an employee who approached the WEA and district administration for help.  

“Given the impacts to families across the area in unprecedented times and given that we don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few weeks, it is just a little bit of a buffer,” said Adrienne Odell, president of Whitefish Education Association.  

Darcy Schellinger, chair of the board, voted in opposition. 

“It’s hard because we’re invested in these people, but when we look at the black and white policies, we have to remember what we’re here to do as a board,” she said. “Fundamentally, it is a challenge because this isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time that we have hardship, and I don’t want to set a precedent.” 

Vice Chair Elizabeth Pitman said, “I always try to put myself in people’s shoes.”  

“We support a community that supports us... and we are also a main stay employer,” Pitman continued. “And if we open up the deadline, is it going to be like a floodgate and all of sudden 15 people want to retire? I just don’t see that happening.”  

Several board members commented before approving the extension to April 15 with a 4-2 vote. Trustees Pitman, Rayne Beach, Quincy Bennetts and Jerrie Boksich voted for and Schellinger and Shannon Hanson voted against.  

THE DISTRICT is planning to request a $100,000 levy for the high school during the May 6 election. 

The funds are intended to help offset the rising cost of goods and services, including consumables, repairs, liability insurance, audit services and professional development, District Clerk Lucie Shea told the board. 

The levy would increase taxes on a $600,000 home by $5.14 per year, according to the district. 

There were no applications submitted for the two school board trustee positions opening in May. The deadline is to apply is March 27. 

Also presented was a resolution on the shuffling of tuition funds that would result in an overall decrease in levies.  

“The [resolution] is an increase in permissive levies and a corresponding decrease in general fund levies,” Shea said. “This resolution is requested due to a new law [HB 203] passed during the 2023 legislative session. Under this new law, tuition payments are given to the student’s district of attendance,” Shea said.  

For example, if a student in Whitefish chooses to attend Columbia Falls, or vice versa, such as a Kalispell student attending Whitefish, the taxpayer funds supporting that student's tuition will be transferred accordingly and prorated to days of attendance in each district.  

In calculating the preliminary 2025-26 budget, Shea took into account a decrease of funding of about $180,000 due to slightly lower enrollment. She also drew numbers following the assumption that the state legislature passes a 3% inflationary increase in funding.  

Shea presented two scenarios that include both above factors. The two scenarios differ, however, in that one on the higher end assumes that the STARS Act passes at the state level, providing an additional $600,000, and that the $100,000 levy increase passes at the local level. The other low-end scenario assumes neither STARS nor the additional levy pass. 

In referencing the higher end budget, Shea pointed out an 8% inflation increase in the cost of nonpersonal goods and services and increases in liability insurance up to 10%.  

“Nothing costs just 3% more, so I want to be conservative,” Shea said.  

IN OTHER agenda items, it was noted that the basketball divisional tournament hosted at Whitefish High School March 6-8 generated about $61,000 in tickets and netted $22,000 from concessions. The funds are distributed first to cover expenses of game and janitorial staff and then are allocated to other schools to help with travel costs, Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown said.  

The district purchased a $70,000 ADA accessible stage for future graduations.